HIV Prevalence Reduction Project gets $307 Million

A total of $307 million has been set aside in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure for an HIV prevalence reduction project.

The objectives of the project include: increasing safer sex practices and improving attitudes and behaviours among vulnerable high risk groups; reducing HIV transmission by delaying sexual initiation, promoting abstinence and increasing condom use among sexually active adolescents; finalising and disseminating the national HIV/AIDS workplace policy; and reducing stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV/AIDS.

As of March 2012, the project has conducted risk reduction interventions for out- of-school adolescence in high risk communities; conducted awareness workshops with vulnerable persons; sensitised HIV positive adolescents about their reproductive health rights, responsible sexual decision-making and prevention of mother to child transmission; conducted focus group sessions with faith-based organisations; and conducted workshops which focused on reducing stigma and discrimination.

For the 2012/13 fiscal year the project aims to: procure test kits for the most at risk groups; increase the availability of HIV test kits for men who have sex with men (MSM) and promote its use; conduct mapping exercise for sex work sites; and provide support for Regional Health Authorities to conduct empowerment workshops.

The programme, called the Prevalence in Most-at-Risk Population Reduced project, is funded by the Government of Jamaica and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is scheduled to be completed by September 2014.